Working with Us
NREL offers industry, universities, and other government agencies opportunities to leverage NREL's research expertise. Working with outside organizations is the key to moving clean energy technologies into the market. We provide opportunities to develop technology partnerships, license our technologies, and use our facilities.
Partner with NREL
Most projects are completed through Technology Partnership Agreements such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements and Work-for-Others Agreements. Each agreement is unique and designed for the successful outcome of the project. For example, you can:
- Work collaboratively with NREL through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements—the most widely used means of industrial collaboration
- Pay NREL to conduct research without your collaboration through Work for Others Research—an effective way for industry to use NREL's expertise
- Negotiate a License Agreement, Nondisclosure Agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding for NREL technology.
Use Our Facilities
NREL, through the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, has several facilities that support energy systems integration research, development, and testing. To help advance research and strengthen product marketability in buildings research, our facilities are available to industrial, university, and government researchers for collaborative research. We can also provide experienced research staff to help conduct testing, or you can perform testing on your own.
Get Started at the Energy Systems Integration Laboratory
The Energy Systems Integration Laboratory (ESIF) includes 15 laboratories with unique capabilities where organizations can partner with NREL to research and collaborate on energy system integration projects.
- If you would like to partner with NREL at the ESIF, please complete a detailed summary of your project using the Project Summary Form as a guide. The Project Summary Form requests information on your projects:
- goals
- expected outcomes
- scope
- schedule
- required resources.
When your Project Summary is complete, please email it to Dr. Martha Symko-Davies, NREL's Business Development Manager. NREL will review your Project Summary for alignment with NREL/ESIF capabilities and project feasibility after which we will contact you to discuss potential partnership mechanisms.
